Benfica’s Best is Back to Best

Tara Madgwick - Saturday June 16
A stakes-winner at three, Godolphin's smart Benfica gelding Eusebio had too much class over his rivals when resuming from a spell at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Eusebio - image Grant CourtneyTuned up with two recent barrier trial wins in Sydney for James Cummings, Eusebio was allowed to settle in the early stages of the 1200 metre sprint by Dwayne Dunn, but unwound a big finish under his 60.5kg to score a short half head win over the favourite Artie Dee Two.

Eusebio won the Listed Canberra Guineas last year to become the first stakes-winner for Aquis Farm's Benfica, a Group I winning son of Lonhro.

He has the overall record of four wins and three placings from 10 starts with prizemoney just shy of $180,000.

Eusebio is a half-brother to Group II winner Deferential and is the fourth winner for Quest for Fame (GB) mare Talent Time, who died in 2015.

He is the best horse to date sired by Benfica, who has been well received at Aquis Farm in Queensland covering over 120 mares in his first two seasons and stands at a fee of $4,400 this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.